During my recent Indian trip, on the first day, I went to Navi Mumbai. Some youngsters around 17-18 years of age were practicing cricket. What was the first shot attempted?A sweep. The second shot?A reverse sweep! Now, these kids were kind of well heeled. So a few days later, I was watching some poor kids play cricket (and serving as second wicket keeper when the ball would beat the batsman and keeper and reach the street). What were the main shots attempted?You guessed it. Something was wrong here. The fundamentals were thrown to the wind. Instant gratification was the name of the game.

On the way to Navi Mumbai, I took the (in)famous electric train, traveling 3 rd class. Even though it was a Sunday, the train was jam packed, due to some cancellations. There was this strapping lad, around 18 years of age, standing at the door, with his middle finger, perched at the inner edge of the roof, offering the only (and last) line of defense from him being hurtled outside. All because he was using the other hand to check SMS messages on his mobile phone. I asked the kid if checking the message while standing at the edge of a fast moving overcrowded train was worth the risk. He looked at me for about 15 seconds, rolled his eyes, put the phone in his pocket, and went past me inside the train. (I think he had to get down at the next station, with the platform being on the other side, but would like to fool myself into thinking he went inside out of respect). Again, misplaced priorites.

Throughout my 2-week stay, I did not spot a single kid reading a newspaper or a book. But everyone was busy with his/her mobile.

Back in the day, not a single day passed without us boys playing cricket, football or hockey. Football in the rainy season, cricket and hockey during the rest of the year. The girls had their own group, and they would play badminton and other games such as chor police etc. In other words, the evenings were spent at our colony ground with healthy competition that prepared us for the future. Every Sunday, we played a match with neighboring teams.

But now?The ground is still there. But the players are missing. The mobile devices have taken over.

It was nice to catch up with my friends (and some of their parents) that are still in the colony from 42 years ago. To a man, we agreed ours was a golden period. The kids these days don’t know what they are missing.

The writer is known to have strong opinions and stronger rants, with his main claim to fame being a top class thread killer.